Abraham Lincoln
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Accession Number
NPG.83.219
Tags
Art Historical Context
This 1860 lithographic print of *Abraham Lincoln*, produced by the renowned Currier & Ives Lithography, captures the future president on the cusp of his historic election. Founded in 1857, Currier & Ives specialized in affordable, hand-colored lithographs that brought art to everyday Americans, depicting everything from landscapes to current events. This portrait, featuring Lincoln in formal drape, exemplifies their mastery of the medium, where artists drew directly on stone for crisp lines and vibrant coloring added by hand, making images both accessible and collectible. Created in the pivot...